From a nurse inspired by women in Uganda to a Criminal Justice graduate turned hospital chaplain (yes, you read that right), we caught up with five Southeastern University alumni to see what they're doing now and how they're making an impact in our communities.

Read on to be inspired by their stories.

Namiah Simpson

Class of 2022 | Nursing

Namiah Simpson is a 10-time NAIA Track and Field All-American, a two-time Academic All-American — and an alumni of the SEU Nursing program (who is back to complete her Master of Science in Nursing).

After helping mentor medical staff in various areas of Uganda, Simpson says she found her calling to not only treat and heal people physically, but to also encourage them when they are at their weakest and most vulnerable points.

See how the women of Uganda inspired her.

Mike Cooper

Class of 1998 | Executive Director of Dream Center of Lakeland

Cooper has been the Executive Director of the Dream Center for 14 years. | Photo provided by Southeastern University

Ten years after graduating from SEU with a BA in Bible, Mike Cooper took over as the Executive Director of the Dream Center of Lakeland — a nonprofit committed to helping the community.

The Dream Center hosts weekly Kids Clubs that bring together children from 18 at-risk neighborhoods. The program is hosted at the recently-completed Kids Club Park, which also houses a community garden that supports the center’s food pantry and soup kitchen. Volunteers give an average of 23,000+ hours of service per year, and have been a part of restoring once-dangerous streets through neighborhood cleanups.

Cooper says he prioritizes creating real connections with people in the community, whether that’s local businesses, individuals, law enforcement, or city officials.

See what else Cooper + the Dream Center are doing.

Devon Barnett

Class of 2015 | Lakeland Regional Health Chaplain

How does a Criminal Justice graduate become a hospital chaplain?

After feeling like he wasn’t where he wanted to be, Devon Barnett met a hospital chaplain while visiting a family member at Lakeland Regional Health — and the rest, as they say, was history.

Completion of LRH’s Clinical Pastoral Education program qualified him to work as a hospital chaplain, but Barnett is back at SEU to earn his Master of Divinity (MDiv).

Whether calming nerves or comforting those who just lost a loved one, Barnett says he has learned you need to be led by love and respect.

Learn about LRH’s practicum relationship with SEU.

Anastasia Brokas

Class of 2017 | Founder of A B Counseling

Anastasia Brokas earned an MS in Professional Counseling through SEU — and has gone on to start her own practice that specializes in counseling teen girls and young adult women into their 30s.

Brokas notes the increased prevalence of mental health issues in society and says SEU’s program prepared her to navigate and understand those conversations — "to teach from a place of knowledge instead of assumption,” as she put it.

See Brokas’ full story.

Are you inspired to make an impact in the community? See how SEU can get you there.

Question

How are you using your degree to impact our community? Inspire us.